Congratulations to Michele C., who joins Ryan E., Rob C. and Huey P. as a winner of a signed copy — it will be a variation of “thanks for making me stand in line at the downtown San Jose Post Office during a pandemic” — of my upcoming book by being the lead question.
Because I attended the game, I didn’t originally watch the telecast, which Michele references. (I did re-watch it on NFL Gamepass on Tuesday). Other themes this week included what the 49ers will do at two positions ravaged by injuries, defensive end and cornerback, and how they’ll proceed at a spot with too many players, wide receiver. Thanks for all of your great questions!
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Michele C. asks: Are any officials (49ers and/or Santa Clara County) rightfully upset that Al Michaels and Cris Collinsworth COMPLAINED about having to wear masks during the broadcast?
For those who listened to the game on the radio, the NBC duo that called Sunday’s game seemed — what’s the right word? — huffy that they had to wear masks. They talked about it before the game, after the game and during the third quarter when Collinsworth complained.
“We’re good boys, though,” Michaels said. “We’re going to get lollipops at the end of the game tonight.”
To answer your question, the 49ers declined to comment. Santa Clara County Executive Jeff Smith told the San Francisco Chronicle, “We wouldn’t want them to end up like the president,” a reference to President Donald Trump’s bout with COVID-19.
I’ve spoken to county officials about mask-wearing by the 49ers in the past and one of the benefits, they said, is that it sends a signal to those watching that it’s important to do during a pandemic. The NFL reinforced that by fining Kyle Shanahan $100,000 and the 49ers another $250,000 for not wearing a mask on game day.
All of the media — indeed everyone but the players — inside Levi’s Stadium on Sunday had to wear masks.
That’s also not the first time Michaels has used his pulpit during an election year. During a Colts-Patriots game in Foxboro, Mass., in 2004 there were a series of turnovers that led to this exchange between his then-booth partner John Madden and Michaels:
Madden: “Now that right there, that’s what I call a flip-flop.”
Michaels: “Well, we’re in the right state for that.”
At the time, “flip flop” was a Republican strategy to attack the Democratic presidential nominee, John Kerry, over his stance on the war in Iraq. Mask wearing, of course, also has become a political issue this year.
Al Michaels, in the booth with Cris Collinsworth, expressed frustration tonight after being required by local California Santa Clara county officials to wear masks on set pic.twitter.com/0A02nVELJV
— Hocus Focus (@ImTheRightThing) October 5, 2020
Ryan H. asks: Why did the 49ers even sign Mohamed Sanu?
As we hinted at last week, the 49ers — who are thin at several key positions — are about to have a surplus of receivers with Richie James coming off of injured reserve this week. They solved that glut by releasing Sanu, 31, whom they signed off the street last month.
Why Sanu and not Dante Pettis or James, neither of whom has caught a pass in 2020? For one, Sanu didn’t play any special teams, a significant factor when determining which non-starting receiver is active on game days. James and Pettis both can return punts. Secondly, James and Pettis are former draft picks and the 49ers aren’t going to merely give away a former draft pick.
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Even with Sanu’s release, the 49ers have a lot of receivers. They dressed six for Sunday’s game and three — Trent Taylor, Pettis and Sanu — didn’t have a reception.
One receiver who seemed upset with Sanu’s release was Brandon Aiyuk, who tweeted the following at the same time the news came out. He later deleted the tweet. Sanu and Aiyuk were seen chatting on the sideline during a recent game against New York.
Alex S. asks: Trent Taylor has been nowhere this year. Even in the game and a half Jimmy Garoppolo played, he made little impact. He seemed to be “back” in training camp. He’s still playing a lot of snaps. What gives?
I don’t know. He definitely seemed “back” in the first half of training camp. He was making a lot of third-down catches and was Garoppolo’s favorite target — along with George Kittle — in the red zone. But he tailed off in the second half of training camp.
At the time, I chalked it up to something a lot of 49ers seemed to be dealing with during a brief, intense camp — dead legs. Taylor has not been on the injury report all season. I can’t explain the mystery.
George M. asks: With the 49ers’ defensive ends completely decimated this year, what are the options moving forward? I’ve heard Clay Matthews and Cameron Wake, but are there other free agents you think the 49ers will target?
It doesn’t sound as if Shanahan is eager to bring in another free-agent edge player after Ziggy Ansah lasted all of six quarters before tearing his biceps. In addition to the names you mentioned, some other prominent edge players available are Michael Bennett (6.5 sacks last year), Jabaal Sheard (4.5), Terrell Suggs (6.5) and former 49ers edge player Dekoda Watson. Which is to say, there are several thirty-something options.
As many of you have noted, Ronald Blair (knee/PUP) is eligible to start practicing again after Week 6 and it’s possible that Dee Ford (back) returns at some point this season. The 49ers may try to tread water at defensive end until then. They will promote Alex Barrett from the practice squad to the active roster this week, according to his agent, Kenny Zuckerman.
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Doug T. asks via Twitter: Which defensive lineman will the 49ers draft in the first round this spring?
Doug T. is asking this facetiously (I think) because the 49ers have drafted five defensive linemen in the first round since 2015. But I definitely wouldn’t rule out No. 6 in 2021. Not at all. One of their top defensive linemen, Ford, has chronic knee and back issues and the other, Nick Bosa, will be coming off an ACL injury that reportedly included cartilage damage. Given the emphasis this team places on defensive linemen I’d say edge rusher will be very high on the menu.
Moron W. asks: Would it be safe to say that a hurry-up offense and run-pass options are the defense’s Achilles heel?
Don’t forget read-option quarterbacks. All of these things are designed to take advantage of an aggressive, up-field defensive line. Two things about the Wide 9, which was a roaring success in 2019: 1. It’s only as good as its pieces and as we keep noting, those are some conspicuous missing pieces this season. 2. It’s received just as much criticism over the past two decades as it has praise. Jim Washburn, who created it and is defensive line coach Kris Kocurek’s mentor, is the devil in Philadelphia, for example.
Rob C. asks: Out of all the players on IR returning this year, which player does the team need most and does his name rhyme with Lee Bord?
That sounds like something they yell at Skynyrd concerts: Play Lee Bord!
Yes, that’s something I wrote throughout the offseason: If Ford plays even 40 percent of the snaps, the 49ers defense could be better than it was in 2019. That modest number now seems unrealistic. And Ford didn’t look like himself in the sole game he’s played this year. Losing Bosa, of course, also means that reaching 2019 levels is improbable.
Michelle A. asks via Twitter: When Weston Richburg comes back, would Ben Garland move to guard?
That’s an option. When he was a Falcon, Garland made four starts at right guard in 2018 and five starts at left guard in 2017. Another option is to start giving fifth-round pick Colton McKivitz some snaps. He mostly played right guard in training camp and it’s notable that veteran Tom Compton — not the rookie, McKivitz — has been inactive in recent weeks.
David G. asks: Once Emmanuel Moseley is cleared, do you see him getting slot snaps with Ahkello Witherspoon (and hopefully Richard Sherman soon) on the outside? Hard to get a feel for Jamar Taylor after he took all the training camp snaps and then was cut.
Yes, that was a bit odd. Taylor was the de facto starter at nickel cornerback in August due to K’Waun Williams’ calf injury, got the lion’s share of the snaps there, then got leapfrogged by guys like Dontae Johnson and Ken Webster.
Your question is a good one. If Moseley and Witherspoon are healthy, my guess is that Moseley retains his Week 1 starting job at outside cornerback and that he, Verrett and Taylor are the top three cornerbacks against the Dolphins. (All are sub-6 feet; it would be the 49ers’ shortest cornerback alignment in years.)
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A good argument could be made for putting Witherspoon in the mix, however. He is the more natural “field” cornerback while Verrett’s skill set seems perfect for “boundary” cornerback. That arrangement also might lay the groundwork for when Sherman — the team’s top “field” cornerback — returns to the lineup.
Jason T. asks: What do you think the coaching staff sees in Dontae Johnson?
Great locker-room guy, strong on special teams, a good guy to have as your fifth cornerback.
Tim S. asks: What is your favorite story from the book and how have you established a level of awesomeness that demands a Joe Staley foreword?
My favorite story involves Alex Smith’s wife’s white Mercedes. Also, I got to the bottom of why Sherman was so steamed at Michael Crabtree during their encounter in the 2013 NFC Championship Game. There was the time Jim Harbaugh saved a player’s life. And, oh yeah, I also wrote about the fight Jed York and Sherman got into at CenturyLink Stadium. We’ll run a short excerpt from the book this week. #teasers
Alberto P. asks: Do you think Shanahan will ever top the kiss that Harbaugh gave you on top of your head after the freezing game in Green Bay? Can’t wait to read the book!
During a pandemic? I most definitely hope he doesn’t top that. In fact, as a devout germaphobe, I wasn’t all that thrilled by Harbaugh’s smooch.
(Photo: Jim McIsaac / Getty Images)
